I'm not talking collision insurance on the vehicle. I just want to purchase liability in case I get in a wreck and somebody is hurt. You can't purchase it unless it's from the car rental company and it's MASSIVELY expensive! Going to Germany next week for an extended period. Anybody have any insights on this?

Rented a car in Italy last year and will be renting one in France in a few weeks. Liability insurance automatically comes with the rental car. Other types of insurance such as collision are provided for free with by my credit card company because of the type of card I have.

A good travel rewards credit card may be your best option. Check out the Chase travel benefit cards, or others. The annual fee for such cards may be cheaper or equivalent to paying for the policy through the rental agency.

I bought the extra insurance during a 2015 trip to Germany. You can rationalize that Germans are less litigious and not buy it. But considering the facts that your US liability coverage does not apply there and you are driving on autobahns at very high speeds, I think it was worth the peace of mind. I saved money on the standard transmission rental car.

quote:You can't purchase it unless it's from the car rental company and it's MASSIVELY expensive!

I've rented cars several times in Italy. I get the "throw the keys at them" insurance which covers anything and everything that could happen. It wasn't MASSIVELY expensive as you stated. It was about $25 a day.

If you choose to use a credit cards insurance as others have stated be aware of the requirements. If you purchase ANY INSURANCE AT ALL from the rental car company the credit cards coverage is voided. Also, not all cards offer international coverage. Read the fine print.

ugh. Look at short term insurance policies for travel abroad. Travel agents and travel websites have suggestions. I bought an Alliance add on policy (to primarily cover emergency medical travel) for Ireland that covered auto liability while collision was covered on my credit card.

Dont listen to advise to not get liability insurance because they don't sue in Europe. They DO have lawyers in Europe that will sue for liability in a clean liability case with real injuries.

Would you rather go bankrupt or buy a liability policy????? The road rules are different in Europe and the cities are difficult to maneuver especially in those countries with opposite side travel lanes. And, the country roads are narrow and most are with defects just like New Orleans streets...

did you ever see the movie Europe Vacation with Chevy Chase trying to get out of the traffic circle in London? Large European city streets are like ant piles that you just stepped in. The scooters come at you from all directions and the bikers dont give a crap about road rules in some cities.

Plus, American pedestrians are so confused with the traffic rules in Europe they cross illegally or in a haze. If you hit Aunt Jessie from Louisiana who is on vacation there you are gonna get sued.......it is the American way. I had a friend get creamed in London by a car because he looked left when he should have looked right while crossing the street......

Call your credit card company and make sure they cover European travel..some cards that cover that in the USA do not cover that in Europe....